Church of Cyprus

Church of Cyprus
Εκκλησία της Κύπρου
Coat of arms of the Church of Cyprus.
TypeAutocephaly
ClassificationChristian
OrientationGreek Orthodox
Scripture
TheologyEastern Orthodox theology
PolityEpiscopal
PrimateGeorge III
Monasteries67
LanguageKoine Greek
HeadquartersNicosia, Cyprus
TerritoryCyprus
FounderBarnabas the Apostle
OriginRoman Cyprus
IndependenceAD 431 or earlier
RecognitionAD 431 (Council of Ephesus)
AD 478 (Roman Empire)
Members654,000
Official websitewww.churchofcyprus.org.cy

The Church of Cyprus (Greek: Ἐκκλησία τῆς Κύπρου, romanizedEkklisia tis Kyprou) is one of the autocephalous Greek Orthodox churches that form part of the communion of the Eastern Orthodox Church. Based in Cyprus, it is one of the oldest Eastern Orthodox autocephalous churches; it claims to have always been independent, although it may have been subject to the Church of Antioch before its autocephaly was recognized in 431 at the Council of Ephesus. The bishop of the ancient capital, Salamis (renamed Constantia by Emperor Constantius II) was constituted metropolitan by Emperor Zeno, with the title archbishop.